'Funflation' hits home: Why staying in isn't the cost-saver it used to be
Following a wave of price hikes, at-home pastimes like streaming movies or playing video games are pinching pocketbooks.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman spar on X after Apple files OpenAI lawsuit
Sam Altman insisted that Elon Musk was again obsessed with him because of an OpenAI model release earlier this week.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, influential lawmaker and Trump ally, dies at 71 after a brief illness
Graham, a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina, had just returned from a trip to Ukraine.
U.S. and Iran trade airstrikes again amid conflicting claims over Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. and Iran exchanged a barrage of missile and drone airstrikes amid a dispute over the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain’s biggest community solar farm forced to shut over grid overload fears
Timing of Devon switchoff ‘could not be worse’, says board, as members face an estimated £2m in lost revenue Britain’s biggest community solar project has been forced to shut for the duration of its first summer by the government’s energy system operator to avoid overloading the local grid with renewable energy.The north Devon solar farm was ordered to shut weeks before record high temperatures across Europe led to power supply warnings, due to concerns that the large amount of rooftop solar in the area could destabilise the power grid by triggering a “thermal overload”. Continue reading...
Green MP Hannah Spencer to introduce bill on maximum workplace temperatures
Byelection winner says heatwaves are causing ‘absolute chaos’ and workers need protection from unsafe conditionsThe Green MP Hannah Spencer is to introduce a bill in parliament that would pave the way for a maximum workplace temperature in the UK, as the country grapples with increasingly frequent heatwaves.If passed, the legislation will create an independent body to recommend maximum safe workplace temperatures and set out how those recommendations should be implemented. Continue reading...
France and UK to increase staffing at border controls in effort to avert travel chaos
Disruption at Channel crossings expected to rise amid new fingerprint and facial recognition checksFrance and the UK have agreed to increase staffing at border controls in response to warnings of travel chaos caused by new fingerprinting and facial recognition checks.Disruption at Channel crossings is expected to rise sharply next weekend at the start of the summer holiday season, with MPs saying there would be “utter chaos and miles of tailbacks” unless the EU’s entry-exit system (EES) is fixed or checks are suspended. Continue reading...
Burnout, frustration and heartbreak: Amazon layoffs take their toll in saturated job market
In the eight-plus months since Amazon announced its most expansive job cuts ever, laid off workers have been thrust into an increasingly saturated labor market.
Majority of U.S. workers support an AI wealth fund as tech layoffs surge, survey finds
A majority of U.S. employees now want an AI sovereign wealth fund to hold corporations more accountable, according to a recent survey, as tech layoffs rise.
UK must cap political donations to stop the rich buying influence | Heather Stewart
If Keir Starmer won’t act then his successor should – by restricting the power of a small group of mega-donors Just as Nigel Farage kicks off a summer of “arguing with a bin”, as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves called it, Labour’s bill to clean up politics returns to the House of Commons this week.As more questions emerge about the financing of Reform UK and Farage’s mega-donor chums – through the brilliant reporting of Guardian colleagues – MPs should seize the opportunity to toughen it up. Continue reading...
Nigel Farage is just one strand in the tangle of rightwing politicians and crypto investors | John Harris
These financiers want to remodel the UK into a form that suits them – one that could threaten to erode the barriers between crime and businessThis coming Tuesday, the government’s representation of the people bill comes back to the House of Commons for its third reading. It bundles up a multitude of measures, including an extension of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds and welcome changes to voter registration. But thanks to the continuing furore around Nigel Farage and his extremely wealthy friends – such as the Thailand-based crypto-investor Christopher Harborne, who gave Farage a £5m “lottery win” personal gift and has donated in excess of £22m to Reform UK – the aspects of the legislation that have suddenly become its headline measures are focused on big-money donations.The government has already implemented a moratorium – but only a moratorium – on political donations in cryptocurrencies, the encrypted digital assets that, to quote the Electoral Commission, “present particular challenges and risks in meeting electoral law requirements in identifying donors and ensuring they are permissible”. There is a new annual £100,000 limit on donations from British citizens living abroad. Other legislative moves will now take the form of amendments to the bill: they include new checks on whether companies making donations are above board by measuring their profit as well as their revenues, and a requirement for parliamentary candidates to declare any donation above £2,230 (although “personal gifts” will continue to be exempt).John Harris is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Tommy Robinson’s Musk-funded Russia trip spurs call to defend UK democracy
Ed Davey voices concern about the Musk family foundation taking the far-right activist on a visit to MoscowThe UK must do more to defend its democracy after it emerged that Elon Musk’s family foundation had taken the far-right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia, Ed Davey has said.Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was brought to Russia by the Musks, the billionaire tech mogul’s father told the Guardian. Continue reading...
Reeves tells Burnham to expect ‘shocks and challenges’ from outset in No 10
Chancellor says PM-in-waiting needs ‘worked through plan’, in what could be one of her final interviews in No 11Rachel Reeves has urged Andy Burnham to arrive in Downing Street with a “worked through plan”, saying the incoming prime minister will be tested quickly by a range of incoming “shocks and challenges”.In what could be one of the first female chancellor’s final major interviews while in No 11, Reeves said Burnham should remain focused on the priorities that first brought him into politics. Continue reading...
Londoners face hidden poverty premium, study says
Low-income households in London are facing an additional burden of over £600 a year simply to access standard goods and services.
UK’s public spending watchdog to investigate Lower Thames Crossing project
Exclusive: Campaigners voice concerns over rising costs of £11bn Essex to Kent road tunnelThe UK’s public spending watchdog has said it plans to investigate the Lower Thames Crossing, as campaigners voice concerns over the rising costs of one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.The head of the National Audit Office (NAO) said he anticipated the agency would “examine and report” on the planned £11bn road tunnel between Kent and Essex, and that work to monitor the project had already started. Continue reading...
‘Super’ El Niño could cause global food price shock lasting into 2028, analysts say
Weather cycle threatens harvests worldwide, adding to inflation already fuelled by the Iran warEconomists are warning that a “super” El Niño weather cycle this year could cause a severe shock to global food prices lasting into 2028.As the Iran war pushes up world food prices to the highest level in three years, economists said supply chains faced “two shocks at once” stoked by extreme weather linked to global heating. Continue reading...
‘A very good clone’: news stories faked to lure victims to scam investment sites
Fraudsters create false articles that appear to be from publishers such as the Guardian to share on social mediaThe Guardian article looks interesting. It says the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has stormed out of a BBC interview after presenter Laura Kuenssberg revealed details of his personal financial affairs – and now the episode has been removed from iPlayer.Among the detail in the piece is that Ratcliffe has been using an online investment platform to make money. The report says although the site has been kept secret, other people have used it too, and they have made a fortune. There is a link to the site where you can trade cryptocurrency, stocks and shares. Continue reading...
To make wine is to believe in the future: the Ukrainians growing grapes on the frontline
In the midst of unexploded Russian rockets and buzzing drones, Ukrainian winemakers are keeping vines and hope aliveAs winemaker Mykhailo Molchanov pottered about trimming foliage from his vines on a warm early-summer day, his dog Direktor at his heels, it was hard to imagine a more idyllic scene.The Molchanovs’ organic vines are planted directly into the richly biodiverse grassland for which southern Ukraine is renowned – hence their label’s name, Steppe Wines – amid the silvery feathergrass and wild salvia. Continue reading...
UK to crack down on unlicensed casinos sponsoring football teams
Exclusive: Government to launch consultation after Everton’s deal with Stake.com went ahead amid Gambling Commission warnings Ministers are poised to crack down on unlicensed casinos sponsoring British sports teams amid criticism that a delay to the proposals has opened the door for offshore gambling firms to strike lucrative deals with Premier League clubs.Progress with plans to kick unlicensed gambling operators out of football has stalled since February, when the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said a review would begin in the spring. Continue reading...
How Aldi is taking on US supermarkets with its $4 almond butter
The German supermarket's $9bn US push targets urban hubs like Manhattan. Can its discount model match Walmart?
‘Almost unlimited’: Execs says AI demand remains strong even as enterprises move to ‘valuemaxxing’
AI-related chip stocks have been volatile amid a debate over AI demand and spending.
Trump threatens to 'decimate' Iran if it tries to kill him, as Treasury sanctions alleged Iranian financier
Trump says 1,000 missiles are "locked and loaded" and will hit Iran if it carries out its threats to assassinate the U.S. president.
AI is entering a new phase — and these are the stocks investors should be watching
CNBC's Paulina Likos and Zev Fima discuss Wall Street's shift from AI euphoria toward rationalization and what it means for investors.
Is the US trying to make scientists’ work so difficult that they simply give up? | Daniel Malinsky
New Trump administration rules would undermine longstanding research practices. It’s death by a thousand cutsA politician who aims to gradually privatize and ultimately destroy an institution funded by tax dollars – say, a public school system or public transportation network – may choose to do so by strategically disinvesting resources from that institution until it becomes barely functional, leading users to look elsewhere to meet their needs. Eventually, the user-base of the public system gets so low or frustrated that it seems reasonable to scrap the thing entirely, or re-direct public funds to private companies as contractors to provide the needed “service”. We’ve seen this strategy play out many times in states and city councils across America.It appears that the endgame of the Trump administration’s attacks on science and the research funding ecosystem is similar: grant freezes and administrative disarray at federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), new layers of project review by political appointees hunting for forbidden keywords such as “disparity” and “marginalized”, and proposed new restrictions to make international collaboration difficult or impossible all point towards a world where it’s just too onerous to do federally-funded scientific research. Is the goal to make scientists simply give up on the endeavor?Daniel Malinsky is an assistant professor of biostatistics in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Continue reading...
‘A slap in the face’: small farmers say Trump is turning his back on them
The president wooed farmers in his campaign, but now the USDA is yanking funding, citing ‘DEI’ and wasteful spendingIt’s just an eighth of an acre, but for Lawrencia Rogers, the plot where she grows broccolini, lettuce and beans on land once tilled by poorhouse residents in eastern Iowa is the closest she has come to living her dream.Iowa is one of the most agriculturally productive states in the country, but getting into farming is not easy, particularly for people like Rogers who have no family connections to the business. It’s nonetheless been a lifelong passion for the 33-year-old Iowan: at age six, she planted a rosebush that’s still alive today, and managed to grow cantaloupe on a strip of dirt and chain-link fence next to the driveway of her grandmother’s house. Continue reading...
While Musk's Neuralink drills into skulls, China's BrainCo bets the future of brain tech is wearable
Interest in brain-computer interfaces is rising as it promises to help people with compromised neural abilities.
Berkshire Hathaway gains ground, but still trails the S&P 500 as '26 enters second half
With 2026 a bit more than half over, Berkshire Hathaway's B shares are down 1.8% year-to-date and 12.4 percentage points behind the S&P 500's 10.7% gain.
‘End of an era’: what is the future of British TV after Sky’s ITV takeover?
Merger stokes fears over job cuts, US influence and possible BBC and Channel 4 tie-up to take on Netflix and YouTubeOnly five years ago a bullish ITV was riding high, trumpeting the biggest annual advertising haul in its history, as the broadcaster pledged to become a national champion in the battle against the US streamers.Now its chief executive, Carolyn McCall, has raised the white flag, arguing that a cut-price sale of its TV and streaming business to Sky is the only route to survival as deep-pocketed companies such as Netflix and YouTube hoover up audiences and commercial revenues. Continue reading...
Reeves tells BBC: Burnham needs worked-through plan to govern from the start
The Chancellor tells Laura Kuenssberg she will be handing over a stable economy to the incoming PM.
Datacentres drive up big tech’s carbon emissions to a third of those of France
Microsoft, Amazon and Google say they still aim to achieve net zero output despite construction boomMicrosoft, Amazon and Google’s collective carbon emissions have increased by nearly a fifth in the past year, driven largely by datacentre construction.In the financial year ending March 2026, the three tech companies emitted 119m mTCO₂e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), or about a third of those of France. Continue reading...
Safe from AI: which jobs will help you thrive in the future?
Experts say there will still be opportunities ahead in everything from teaching to hotels and the lawEntering the world of work often brings some uncertainty, but now there is another question: how can I AI-proof my career?We asked people from across various industries what they think the impact of AI will be on careers, and which jobs may be less affected. While it is still early days for the tech, many had ideas about how you can best prepare yourself for a successful career in this new world. Continue reading...
‘Like a sauna’: London tube travellers swelter in temperatures higher than legal limit for cattle
The tube cannot easily be adapted to cope with heatwaves, making conditions almost unbearableAs the escalator descends below ground at King’s Cross St Pancras station in London, the shift from what was already a hot station entrance to the furnace-like subterranean depths is perceptible.On the tube it’s worse: a man leans back in his seat, eyes closed, sweltering; people hold electric fans an inch away from their faces. London commuters are known for their stoicism and the heat appears to be another tribulation to accept. They will need to: heatwaves in the capital are becoming routine. Continue reading...
Will Trump Accounts deliver for American children?
The White House has hailed the project as giving new generations a stake in the American dream, but the scheme has its critics.
‘A new consumer’: how weight-loss drugs are shaking up clothes shopping
As they slim down, UK and US users of GLP-1 jabs and pills are changing their spending habits – and their wardrobesTell us: what does the new weight-loss pill mean for you?“I’m now at a point where I’m going to buy even more clothes,” says Hayley Grice, 50, from Shropshire, who has dropped seven sizes after starting on the GLP-1 weight loss jab Mounjaro two years ago. “I’m very happy with my physique right now.”Grice, the financial director of a business she set up with her husband, tried gastric bypass surgery in 2009, but put most of the weight back on, and had been between UK dress sizes 26 and 28 (US sizes 22 and 24) all her adult life. Continue reading...
The ad machine: how David Beckham conquered America
The former England midfielder is everywhere at this World Cup, having reached a popularity in the US other Britons have rarely achievedWatch US television for any length of time and the endless spume of adverts will eventually separate into three distinct types.The first are adverts for units of generic food-substance, each one essentially the same hand-sized grenade of glossy and salted microminced matter; but each also with its own industrialised repertoire of colours and noise and packaging required to dress it as a distinct genre of actual human food. Try the delicious new Flame Sauced Philly Cheese Taco Wing Waffle Dog Deep Dish MegaDeath Burger Grenade-Shaped Eat Thing. You won’t be disappointed. Or you will be. Whatever. Continue reading...
Labour MPs call for Andy Burnham to restore aid spending target set by Brown
Thinktank urges prospective prime minister to reclaim UK’s role as an international leader on developmentInfluential backbenchers are calling on Andy Burnham to reclaim Labour’s leadership on international development and chart a course back to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas aid.In a collection of essays to be published soon by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) thinktank, MPs lay out proposals for a Burnham-led government to rethink foreign policy. Continue reading...
'We've saved 34 tonnes of food and a carpet'
Two community groups say they have welcomed "record attendances" and given away many 'random items".
Ryanair has axed its family seating policy – but kids’ fees still add up
The airfare for a baby on your lap could cost more than your own ticket. Here’s how airline charges and travel taxes can hit youRyanair recently stopped making parents pay to sit next to their children but depending on the airline the hidden extra costs involved in flying with children can be substantial. In some cases, you can even end up spending more for the baby on your lap than you paid for your own flight.Your baby might not need a seat, but you are still likely to pay fees for them to travel. Some airlines offer discounts for children over two, while others whack families with the cost of a full-grown adult. Continue reading...
AstraZeneca's trial flop raises a bigger question: Is its pipeline premium becoming more vulnerable?
For years, AstraZeneca has commanded one of the richest valuations among large European pharma companies on the assumption that it consistently delivers results.
Europe considering proposals to allow navigation fees in strait of Hormuz
Plans specify tolls must not be compulsory as US officials urge Iran to make public guarantee of safe passage for shippingEurope is studying proposals that could allow navigation fees to be charged in the strait of Hormuz, provided the payments are not compulsory and have the support of the UN agency that regulates maritime transport.Britain’s deputy prime minister, David Lammy, said imposing mandatory tolls would be disastrous. But some cabinet colleagues said they recognised that payments for specific navigational services were permissible in many natural waterways, including the strait of Malacca and the English Channel. Continue reading...
Apple sues OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, says scheme was 'at every level'
The two companies entered into a high-profile partnership in 2024 when ChatGPT was integrated into the iPhone's operating system.
Trump admin eases export controls for UAE; Warren blasts 'corrupt' provision
The Commerce Department will favorably review exports involving MGX, which used a stablecoin linked to President Trump's family for a $2B Binance investment.
SK Hynix rises 13% in Nasdaq debut. Chairman tells CNBC 'demand is enormous'
SK Hynix has soared to a trillion-dollar market cap by serving some of the biggest names in technology, including Nvidia and Apple.
Stablecoin issuer Circle just got the greenlight to operate as a bank. The shares are up 5%
Stablecoin issuer Circle surged in premarket trading after the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted it approval to operate as a trust bank.
What are the rules on political donations and gifts in the UK?
Mega-donors are coming under scrutiny with growing calls for donations cap beyond those from overseas investorsThe question of who funds politicians and political parties – and why they want to give money to get people elected – is an extremely heated one. In principle, UK voters can support their chosen politicians through donations or benefits, as long as those candidates and their parties keep within spending limits during an election period, which is designed to stop powerful interests from influencing the result.However, recent years have seen the rise of mega-donors giving vast sums to political parties, leading to calls for a new cap on the amount one individual or company can donate in a year. There has also been pressure for greater transparency around financial interests after the furore over Nigel Farage’s £5m gift from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, shortly before the Reform UK leader became an MP. The rules state that gifts only have to be declared if they are political, and Farage has said it was “personal” and freely given with no demands attached. Parliament’s standards commissioner is investigating the case. So, what are the rules on political donations and gifts? Continue reading...
Netflix reportedly among parties in talks to buy Letterboxd
Sony Pictures and Paramount are said to also be among potential buyers for the film-focused social platformLetterboxd is reportedly in talks with potential buyers.The owners of the popular social platform for movies are discussing a sale with companies including Netflix, Sony Pictures and Paramount, according to the industry newsletter Puck. Continue reading...
George and Fiona Cottrell understood to have been interviewed under caution by Met police
Exclusive: Interviews of Farage aide and his mother believed to be part of investigation into donations to Reform UK before 2024 electionNigel Farage’s aide George Cottrell and his mother, Fiona Cottrell, have been interviewed under criminal caution by Scotland Yard detectives, the Guardian understands.The interviews are understood to form part of an ongoing investigation into donations to Reform UK before the general election in July 2024. Continue reading...
How the U.S.-Iran deal set the stage for renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. and Iran's contradictory interperations of the memorandum of understanding have led to renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz.
High court rejects most of ‘dieselgate’ claims brought by 1.6m UK car owners
Carmakers welcome ruling against suit claiming manufacturers including Nissan, Ford and Peugeot fitted devices to defeat emission testsCar manufacturers have welcomed a high court verdict that rejected most of the allegations in a “dieselgate” claim brought on behalf of 1.6 million UK owners of polluting cars.In her judgment, Lady Justice Cockerill said that “in the majority of instances, the court found that the relevant strategy did not constitute a prohibited defeat device” – software that enables the engine to behave differently in tests. Continue reading...
Chip giant SK Hynix raises $26.5bn as shares surge in bumper US listing
The shares surged as much as 17% in their Nasdaq trading debut on Friday following the record-breaking foreign listing.
Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say
The man's wife held onto his legs for around five minutes to stop him from being sucked out, officials say.
There are dangerous loopholes in the regulation of ebikes | Letters
Readers respond to an article about a woman who was hit by a child on a Lime bikeThe case of Jane Ouartsi is horrific, but not surprising to many disabled people who move around central London and know how quickly careless riding can become dangerous (‘I felt my spine and body split’: the woman who was hit by a child on a Lime bike – and denied compensation, 7 July).I am a powered wheelchair user in Westminster. I support cleaner streets and fewer car journeys, so I am not opposed to ebikes in principle. But the present dockless system too often transfers risk on to pedestrians, disabled people and older people. Continue reading...
Major car firms found not to have installed emissions-cheating devices
A High Court judge said some major car manufacturers did not install a device to cheat emissions testing.
Two bidders are better than one. But easyJet’s exit is depressing for the London market | Nils Pratley
Once again a mispriced share price created opening for US raiders to rush inUS private equity firm Apollo enters easyJet bidding warWill any remaining bidders for easyJet please make their way to the boarding gate? In reality, we’ve probably seen the whole cast at this point because the arrival of US private equity firm Apollo, trumping Castlelake’s offer, is a surprise. But the outbreak of a competitive auction will come as a relief to easyJet’s board.For all the fake drama of Castlelake’s five offers, it was an act of timidity on the part of the easyJet chair, Sir Stephen Hester, to surrender at 690p, as argued here earlier this week. Apollo’s 715p, or £5.7bn, is only 3.6% more but at least the first digit is less embarrassing and there is always a chance Castlelake comes back for another go. Continue reading...
EasyJet agrees to surprise takeover bid as rival US firm swoops in
The airline says a bid from US firm Apollo has trumped a recent takeover offer from Castlelake.
These are America's 10 cheapest states for 2026, where you can still beat inflation
These are America's cheapest states to live in for 2026, where residents can still beat inflation.
The bulging in-tray of challenges Andy Burnham faces upon entering No 10
From welfare and defence spending to cost of living and geopolitics, we look at the key issues left over from StarmerAndy Burnham is expected to become prime minister in less than two weeks and has promised to significantly change Labour’s agenda and deliver improvements for all parts of the UK.But he will arrive with a bulging in-tray of challenges and issues left over from Keir Starmer – from geopolitics to the cost of living. Here is what Burnham can expect to find behind the Downing Street black door. Continue reading...
Meet SK Hynix, the trillion-dollar South Korean chipmaker debuting on U.S. markets
Following a more than sevenfold rally in its stock price over the past year, South Korea's SK Hynix is listing on the Nasdaq.
These are America's 10 most expensive states for 2026, where inflation is punishing residents
These 10 U.S. states are the most expensive places to live in America in 2026, with inflation punishing residents to an extreme degree.
Should you be switching bank accounts?
Martin Lewis covers whether you should be switching bank accounts.
Ukraine escalates attacks on tankers near Crimea as Russian fuel shortages bite
The drone strikes form part of Ukraine's campaign designed to choke off supplies and transportation routes in and out of Crimea.
Why the stock market and economy may seem out of sync
The stock market has boomed on AI euphoria, while the trajectory of the U.S. economy has been more tepid, economists said.
EU threatens Meta with fines over 'addictive' Facebook and Instagram
Regulators say features such as infinite scroll contribute to "compulsive use" and "unhealthy habits".
Meta found to breach EU laws with 'addictive' Instagram, Facebook designs
Instagram and Facebook's "addictive" designs have put Meta in breach of the European Union's digital laws, the EU concluded Friday in a preliminary report.
Volkswagen to slash model lineup and shrink capacity — but no word on job cuts
The update followed a high-stakes boardroom showdown with the group's supervisory board.
Pokémon Go fans gather in Times Square to celebrate 10 years of game – video
Pokémon Go celebrated its 10th anniversary with a Times Square takeover in New York featuring a special event to defeat the Pokémon species Mewtwo. Nearly 2,000 people played the game together simultaneously in what organisers called one of the largest in-person Pokémon battles in history Continue reading...
Vapes to have less enticing names and flavours to protect children
People are being consulted about plans to stop vape companies using enticing flavour descriptions that "attract" children into experimenting.
World oil demand set for first annual decline since 2020, IEA says
Renewed escalation in the U.S.-Iran war could complicate matters and further cloud the outlook, the IEA warned Friday.
We've saved £6,000 on holidays by swapping homes with strangers
The BBC looks at the growing trend of people swapping homes to cut holiday costs.
EasyJet pops 13% as airline weighs $7.7 billion rival takeover bid from Apollo
A bidding war has broken out for budget carrier easyJet after Apollo and Castlelake have both submitted takeover offers.
Here’s how Andy Burnham can finance a reindustrialised Britain – without doing a Liz Truss | Larry Elliott
Britain’s PM-in-waiting is right that the country has been failed by 40 years of neoliberalism. There will be obstacles, but he must embrace radicalism Of all the many prime ministers who have walked through the doors of 10 Downing Street in the past decade, the one Andy Burnham resembles most is Liz Truss. Both had a view of what was going wrong with the economy. Both wanted to break with the politics of managed decline. Both had ambitious ideas for what needed to be done.Truss, of course, came to grief within weeks of becoming prime minister, after her tax-cutting mini-budget was brutally rejected by the financial markets. The big question for Burnham is whether he can deliver on his agenda without suffering the same fate. He can, but it won’t be easy.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Homes for sale with stylish bedrooms in England and Wales – in pictures
From a warehouse conversion in London with views of the water, to a 17th-century barn with an annexe used as a yoga retreat Continue reading...
Drivers urged to shop around amid 11p fuel gap
The RAC says motorists are missing out on savings because many are not using price comparison tools.
This thinktank exposed fat cats and obscenely high pay. Guess what has happened to it? | Polly Toynbee
The High Pay Centre revealed the excesses of CEO wages. But then anti-diversity winds blew in from across the AtlanticShock ricocheted around the world of social research this week with the sudden news of the imminent closure of the High Pay Centre (HPC). Founded in 2011 by the former Guardian business editor Deborah Hargreaves to focus on analysis of extreme pay at the top and the widening pay gap between CEOs and their average employees, its closure feels like the death of an idea.Others campaign on tax and redistribution but the HPC was concerned with “predistribution”. It was unique in looking at the origins of inequality in pay and control over pay rates. Its annual report is always covered, even by rightwing media, because each year it reawakens a sense of disbelief at the way we live now. Why would the median FTSE 100 CEO need £4.4m this year to do his (yes, mostly still his) gratifyingly high-status job? Why?Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Telstra CEO Vicki Brady faces questions on nationwide outage – video
Returning from annual leave, Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady has faced a barrage of questions for the first time since the company's nationwide outage on Wednesday affected train services, payment systems and triple zero calls. Brady says the failure was not the result of job restructuring, insisting that 'people and processes worked as they should have'. She said Telstra would conduct a thorough investigation into the software glitch behind the outage.An earlier headline on this video incorrectly said Telstra was reviewing executive bonuses in light of the incidentHow a throwback to 2006 took down Telstra’s national phone networkAs the Telstra crisis unfolded, the Coalition fell victim to another communications failureTaylor defends Sarah Henderson’s triple-zero calls as SA police investigate claimed Telstra-outage death Continue reading...
'Cool in 90 seconds' - the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet
The ASA says adverts claiming small devices can rapidly cool rooms were too good to be true.
Inside NATO's extraordinary 48 hours that revealed Trump's grip on global diplomacy
Steve Sedgwick goes behind the scenes of NATO's dramatic 48 hours, where Trump's changing tone reshaped diplomacy and left allies guessing.
Pressure builds on Europe's biggest port to be greener
A lawsuit demands that the Port of Rotterdam moves faster to cut its dependence on fossil fuel firms.
Interest rates may need to rise this year, says Bank of England economist
Chief economist at the Bank of England says slower growth and inflationary pressures mean rate rise needed
Big fall in oil, gas and cargo ships taking US-backed Hormuz route after new strikes
Data shows a decline in the number of ships - many carrying oil and gas - going through the waterway after attacks this week.
Porn site company fined £630,000 over failed age checks
Ofcom has fined a slew of sites it says are failing to prevent children accessing their adult content.
Jackdaw boss warns of winter fuel shortage risk if gas field not approved
Adura says the UK government must approve North Sea production urgently to avoid domestic supply shortages.
How can I get air conditioning in my home and how much does it cost?
As summers in the UK get hotter, is it time for air conditioning to become a permanent feature in most homes?
Life of Sizewell B extended by another 20 years
The power plant was due to reach the end of its life in 2035 but will now continue until 2055.
Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
The median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures.
I run the UK's biggest bank, here are five ways to manage your money
The CEO of Lloyds Bank talks about how to save, budget, avoid scams and manage money in a relationship.
Why electric cars cost more to insure - and what's being done about it
The insurance cost of electric vehicles is still putting off many would-be buyers. So what can be done about it?
Online marketplaces still selling dozens of unsafe baby products, Which? finds
Pillows, sleeping bags and feeders subject to safety notices were found on sites including Amazon and TikTok.
Will Trump invade Cuba? – podcast
Since Donald Trump threatened to ‘take’ Cuba, the Caribbean island has been on edge. Escalating US sanctions and an oil blockade has crippled essential services, plunged the country into blackouts and ground life for its 10 million people to a near halt.Nour Haydar speaks with Ruaridh Nicoll about what life is like on the ground in Havana – and if US military intervention could be nextRead more:No electricity, no gas, no sleep: Cubans on edge amid endless outagesCubans outraged at US charges against Raúl Castro as fears of military strikes grow Continue reading...
How to find lost bank accounts
How to find lost bank accounts
Outcry as Meta lets users make AI images from public Instagram profile pics
The tech giant said people can opt out - but privacy campaigners called it a "recipe for disaster".
Virgin Media fined after hanging up on customers trying to cancel contracts
Millions of phone calls from customers were "likely mishandled" over nearly a three-year period, the regulator says.
From mouthwash to hair dye: How weight-loss jabs are changing shopping habits
The BBC looks at how spending habits have shifted as users report feeling less hungry.
Trains and emergency calls affected after major outage at Australia's largest telecoms company
Servers at data centres in Sydney and Melbourne were to blame but the exact cause remains unknown.
This former Apple executive is betting on Shenzhen, not Silicon Valley, to create the 'next Apple'
Startups building consumer electronics will have a better shot at becoming the next Apple in Shenzhen than in Silicon Valley, said Will Wang, CEO of China's smart-glasses startup.
Australia dock workers call for 28-hour week in AI talks
A union says workers are "in the crosshairs" of automation as AI is being tested across ports.
China's rare missile test will push wary Asia-Pacific countries to close ranks, analysts say
China's rare launch of a ballistic missile launch into the Pacific will push regional powers to deepen their defense ties.
Datacentres are booming – and there goes the neighbourhood | Jess Harwood
Be careful what you wish forSee more of Jess Harwood’s cartoons here Continue reading...
Hundreds of jobs at risk as John Lewis plans to cut some services
No final decision has been made but the job cuts will happen in the autumn if the redundancy plans are approved.
Victims of 23andMe data breach to get $47m payout, judge rules
23andMe compiles genetic profiles of people through DNA testing kits, but it was heavily criticised after a 2023 hack.
People Fixing The World
The people turning life experience into business ideas with funding and other support
UK house prices rise for first time since start of Iran war
Typical property cost £299,330 in June, 0.2% more than the month before, says LloydsBusiness live – latest updatesHouse prices across the UK have risen for the first time since before the onset of the Iran war, leaving property values narrowly below those at the start of the year, according to a survey.The typical property cost £299,330 in June, a 0.2% increase on the month before. This came after a monthly drop of 0.2% in May, according to the latest Lloyds house price index, previously known as the Halifax HPI. The annual growth rate edged higher to 0.6% from 0.5%. Continue reading...
Sun stoppers: seven ways to keep your home cool this summer
You can keep temperatures down without the cost – or environmental price – of air conditioning. Here’s some tips and tricksThe best fans to keep you cool in 2026 – tried and testedIn the UK we are used to worrying about our homes being warm enough, but after struggling to cope with high temperatures in May and June the race is on to cool them down before the next heatwave hits.And while it might be tempting to swap your desktop fan for a portable air conditioner, there are lots of low-cost, more sustainable ways to stop rooms overheating. Continue reading...
Student loan promotion in England and Wales amounted to mis-selling, MPs say
Treasury select committee also says ministers have moral obligation to reverse last year’s repayment threshold freezeSlideshows that compared student loan repayments with the cost of a mobile phone contract, and YouTube videos that did not mention the fact that loan terms could change amounted to mis-selling by the government, MPs have said.The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, caused a furore last year when she announced that the repayment threshold on plan 2 student loans would be frozen at £29,385 for three years from April 2027. Continue reading...
Robots available for rent: But what can they do?
Robotics tech is changing fast, so for many it makes sense to rent a robot.
Nvidia's next-gen AI rack system delayed to 2028 on manufacturing snags, SemiAnalysis says
The reported delay adds to concerns that Nvidia's breakneck annual release cadence is colliding with manufacturing limits.
Shoppers hit by hidden fees
Shoppers hit by hidden fees
AI is 'not smart' so what's next in artificial intelligence?
Leading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
Why is crucial tech vulnerable to the heat?
Energy grids and train services are among the vital services that are vulnerable to very hot weather.
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
The legal fight to get equal pay for Germany's disabled workers
A test case is seeking the minimum wage for 300,000 disabled people who currently get paid less.
Do you know your 'sweat score'? The rise of hydration tech
Hydration tracking gadgets are flooding the market but is it too much information?
Is Germany looking again at coal-powered electricity?
It had planned to abandon the fuel, but the higher cost of natural gas may make it think again.
The artificial ice pyramids saving India's mountain villages
Himalayan villages are creating artificial glaciers to guarantee water for their crops in the spring.
'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots
As the delivery vehicles increasing take to US streets, bans and protest groups are springing up.
What is Helium-3 and could we get it from the moon?
Helium-3 is expensive and demand is forecast to soar, so some are planning to mine it on the moon.
Why I sold my business to my staff
As more US company owners reach retirement age many are selling up to their employees.
India's 'blue gold' starts a new drinks industry
Agave plants grow wild in India and new distillers are using them to create a spirits industry.
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
New candy stores are popping up across NYC. Why?
While US consumer confidence is at an historic low the Big Apple's sweet shops are expanding.
Could humanoid robots be heading for the battlefield?
Armed forces are experimenting with humanoid robots, but battlefield deployment is some way off.
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
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